HE HAS traveled the world and sung opera, operetta, and concerts in theaters in different countries -- Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, England, France, Germany Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the USA and of course, the Philippines.
On stage, he has taken the roles of Faust, Cavaradossi, Chateauneuf, the Governor in "Candide," to name a few, and the lead roles in the operas "JushTush" and "Arrest."
For tenor Abdul Candao, who is born in Davao and based in Austria, coming during the holidays entails two things: spend the Yuletide Season with the family and do a series of concerts in his alma mater, the University of Sto. Tomas, several venues in Manila, and in his hometown in Mindanao. This is his annual tradition, a vow of some sort.
This Christmas season, Abdul Candao will be performing in show entitled Encore: TenoRRific at the Pantawan Hall of Davao Casino Filipino in Grand Regal Hotel on December 22, Friday, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Expect a repertoire that includes Candao's most significant performances and perhaps, Filipino classics interpreted by a tenor.
Accompanying Abdul Candao on stage is Jude Edgard "Joed" Caballero Balsamo pianist, musical director, arranger, adjudicator, arts administrator, and cultural worker.
Like Candao, Balsamo has traveled the world and has received a slew of awards for his original compositions, collaborations and performances from national and international award giving bodies.
As pianist, he won second prize at the 2001 National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), Category C, as well as Best Performance of a Filipino piece and third prize at the University of the Philippines Millennium Piano Competition in July 2000. In July 2016, he gave his graduation recital for his Master of Arts in Music (piano performance) Degree at the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music.
Balsamo is currently a faculty member at the Centro Escolar University Conservatory of Music, the resident music director for Ballet Philippines, and is a member of the Asian Composers' League Philippines, Philippine Choral Directors Association, Piano Teachers' Guild of the Philippines Foundation Inc., and of the Executive Music Committee of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (2011-16).
Catch the performance of tenor Abdul Candao accompanied by pianist Joed Balsamo at the Casino Filipino this Friday, December 22, 6 p.m. Tickets priced at P1,500 (Gold) and P1,000 (Silver) are available at Casino Filipino, Skin Doctors, Quinque, J&J Dental Clinic and Music Academy. For inquiries, call 0998-886-8644.